Brush assembling machine



Dec. 29, 1953 J. G. BAUMGARTNER 2,664,315

BRUSH ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Decl 1953 J. G. BAUMGARTNER 2,664,315

BRUSH ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HQ; INVENTOR.

1953 J. G. BAUMGARTNER 2,664,315

BRUSH ASSEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19 1950 INVENTOR.

Dec. 29, 1953 BAUMGARTNER 2,664,315

BRUSH ASSEMBLING MACHINE J IN V EN TOR.

G. flazzzzg/azizzer 1953 J. G. BAUMGARTNER 2,664,315

BRUSH ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 flr INVENTOR.

M72, 6; ,Bazzmyaziizef BY v Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES t TENT OFFICE 13. Claims. 1.

This invention relates generallyztoassembling machines, andsmore particularly toa: machine for assemblingthe. stem of a brushphavingbristles thereon to a cap which-serves as the handle for the brush.

It. is nowcommon practicetosecure brushes which are used. for applying lacqueryor similar material to acapwhich. actsboth as the closure for a-bottleor other container-in which the mate.- rialis provided,'and.also;as a handle for holding the brush. Inparticularv such an arrangement iSzCOHlIYXOIl-lYfUSBd with fingernailpolishiwith the cap which closes the; bottle containing the polish alsosupportingsthe stem of; the .brush'and serving as .a; handle; for ;-the 1 brush :so that r the :brush; is always-readilyavailable and canine heldwithout danger of; ccntactingg-the fingernail; polish.

Iniorder to savelspace inuthe handling, shipping andstoring :of such; brushes, it *is preferable .to packthe stemzand bristle portions .Ofgthfi brushes, andtthecapzportions, in separate containers. It is'obvious that this results in a. great saving in space-as comparedwiththat which would be re.- quired to pack the;:assembled:units.. Itnis therefore proposed'to handle the portions of the brush separately and .:then assemble themzjusti before the brush is applied. to==.the bottleewith: which it istoibeu-sed. Tov practice this. procedure; it is necessary that. a: simple-device-be provided;:for

rapidly assembling the.stem rand leap to. provide the completed unit. Such a machine should be capable v,of-operation by an unskilledgoperator and should not require-specialized maintenance; as mechanics skilled insuch machines might not be available atthc-plantin which thebrushes are finally-appliedto the bottlesor-other containers.

It. is therefore anriobject .ofthe present invention .to. provide asimple automatic machine for assembling the stem: and bristle portion: of a brush with a caportion. which isnthereafter used as-the. handlefor the-brush.

It isanother object of this inventiontoprovide asmachine for. rapidly assemblinggthe stem and handle portions .of .a .brush. which can be operated by. an unskilled, operator and which. provides. a secure connection between the-parts without re--v quiring. close'tolerances in the parts, andiwithout damaging the parts so. that a substantial number mustybe. rejected.v

A feature of. thisainventiongis the ;pr'ovision: f a .machine 1 for assembling the -i stem and: bristle portionof. abrush with. the..hand1e portion thereof, in which theitwo portions are individe ually fed to i an. assembly'point with; the; handle portion. being held in. au. fixture; and the, stem 2 inserted therein to provide a secure connection therewith.

A further -;feature,of this invention is the provision of 'an automatic assembling machine for brushes having camrmeans on a single shaft for controlling all moving parts required in the assembling operation;

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a machine for-assembling stem and bristles portions of brushes in .caps which serve as handles,,in whichthe stemandbristle portions are fed along a channel and then individually positioned-between clamping jaws which engage the stem and then slide asa unit .to force the end of the stem. into a recessin the cap. After the stem and cap arexunited the capvis removed from, the fixture and .the assembled brush is dropped from the machine.

Further objects and features will be'apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription taken; in 7 connection with the accompanying drawings in; which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembling; machine;

Fig; 2 is a crosssectional view through the machine showing thecammeans and the linkages connected therewith;

Fig; 3 is a cross. sectional view. showing the assembly slide in a position with the stem of. the brush inserted'in the cap;

Fig. 4 isa cross sectional view along the lines 4-'-4.of Fig. 3 illustrating theejecting and clamping structure;

Fig. 5 is a; perspective view illustrating the dropping fingers of the ejecting mechanism Fig; 6 illustrates theassembly slide;

Fig. 7 isan exploded view showing the various components of the assembly slide;

Fig. 8 isa cross sectional view along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 3 illustrating the fixture inwhich the caps are held: during-assembly;

Fig. 9 shows the container for the caps and the agitating; means therefor;

Fig. 10 is across sectional viewalong the lines l8--I0-of Fig, 9;

Fig..11 is a. detail ,viewof the openings in the container;

Fig. 12 illustrates a completed brush and,.

Fig, 13 illustrates-amodified structure for feedingvstem, and bristle portions of brushes.

Inpracticing the invention; there is provided a machine for assembling stem and bristleportions of brushes with caps which serve as handles for the brushes; The machine'ineludes a frame or tableson-which the. operating parts of the mas chine are supported. Positioned substantially centrally on the table is an assembly fixture which is shaped to receive a cap and hold the same in a position so that a stem can be inserted in a recess provided therein. A slide is provided including a retractable clamping jaw for holding the stem and bristle portion of a brush, and sliding as a unit into a position in which the stem is forced into the recess in the cap. A container is provided for the caps and 'a conveyor interconnects the container and the fixture for supplying the caps thereto. The container has openings through which caps are supplied in a particular position to the conveyor, with a rotating vane agitating the caps so that they move through the openings. Feeding means are provided for the stem and bristle portions including a channel in which a single layer of such portions may be positioned and a finger for urging the portions toward the assembly point. Ejector means are provided for removing the stem and bristle portions individually from the feeding channel and positioning them in the clamping jaws. For causing automatic operation of the machine, cam means are provided which are interconnected through mechanical linkages with the ejector means, the clamping means and the assembly slide so that the stem and bristle portion is held in the clamping jaws and the end thereof is forced into the recess of the cap.

Referring now to the drawings, the table is shown including a top 2!! and a front supporting frame 2| and a rear supporting frame 22, with a brace 23 interconnecting the frames to provide a I rigid structure. A bracket 24 is secured to the table at the back for supporting the container for the caps. The container 25 is connected through a conveyor 4! to a fixture 42 supported on the top 20 (Fig. 3), which holds a cap l9 While the stem and bristle portion is being assembled thereto. A complete assembled unit is shown in Fig. 12 with the stem :8 having bristles l7 secured thereto. For supporting the feeding mechanism for the stem and bristle portions of the brushes, a shelf 26 is provided on one side. A channel 2! is provided in the shelf through which the stem and bristle portions are fed to an ejector mechanism 23 positioned above the assembly slide 29. The assembly slide is supported on the table 26 by track members 30 having slanting edges engaging corresponding slantingedges on the slide. For causing automatic operation of the machine, a motor 3| is provided which operates through pulleys 32 and 33 to drive shaft 34 on which cams 35, 36 and 31 are mounted. The cam operates through arms 3! and 38 to operate the ejector mechanism 28, the cam 3! operates through arms 39 and t!) to operate the assembly slide as, and the cam 36 operates through a linkage to control the operation of the clamping means on the slide as will be further described.

The mechanism for feeding the stem and bristle portions of the brushes to the assembly slide is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As previously stated, the shelf 26 has a channel 27 therein formed by rails 44 having inturned lips 55 which hold the portions in a single layer. A finger 46 secured to arm 41, which is pivotally and slidably supported on the rod 48, acts as a follower to push the stem and brush portions toward the assembly slide. The tubular support 39 for the arm 47 is pulled toward the assembly slide by cord 59 to which is attached weight 5|.

The ejector mechanism for individually positioning the stem and bristle portions of the brushes on the assembly slide is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. As best shown in Fig. 4, pivotally mounted fingers 55 are provided having notches 58 for retaining the stem and bristle portions at the end of the channel 21. The fingers are secured to shaft 5'. which is spring biased through arm 58 and spring 59 to the position shown in Fig. 4. For ejecting each portion individually, a vertical slide Gil is provided which slides in a channel formed by the supporting member GI and the plates 62. As shown best in Fig. 2, the slide 69 is connected to arm 38 which is coupled through arm 3'! to the cam 35. The spring 63 tends to pull the slide down with the cam 35 normally holding the slide in the upward position. When the cam 35 is in such position that the recess 55 therein is engaged by the roller t l at the end of the arm 31 the spring 63, operating through the linkage, will cause the slide 62 to move downwardly. The bottom end of the slide will engage the stem and bristle portion held in fingers 55 and cause the fingers to rotate to a position so that the stem and bristle portion can drop to the slide 29 in the position shown in dotted lines and indicated at 65. To receive the stem and bristle portion, the movable clamp jaw 61 must be withdrawn from the fixed jaw 68 to a position as indicated at Ma so that the stem can drop between the fixed clamp jaw "68 and the movable clamp jaw 6?. The slide til has a projecting finger 69 which holds the end of the stem so that it will not move longitudinally as it is dropped into the clamping v aws in the assembly slide.

As previously stated, the assembly slide 29 is supported on the table 20 for sliding movement between the tracks 30. The slide is moved by arm 40 which is pivotally connected to arm 39. The arm 39 is pivotally supported by the sleeve 10 supported by brackets H and 12 which are secured to the top 20. The bracket H also cooperates with bracket 13 to support the shaft 34 on which the cams are mounted. The arm 39 is biased toward the back of the table by spring 14 and is moved against the force of the spring 14 by roller 15 which bears against the cam 31. The cam 31 has a low spot which, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is at the top, and when the cam rotates so that the low spot engages the roller 15 the slide 29 will be moved by action of the spring 14 toward the back of the table.

The construction of the slide and the clamping means thereon is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and '1. The slide has a recess in the bottom surface and a slot 8| extending from the top surface thereof through to the recess. The fixed clamping jaw 68 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the slide 29. The movable clamp jaw 61 is held in the recess by the block 82 which may be bolted to the slide 29. The movable jaw 61 has a recess 85 therein which cooperates with the raised portion 86 on the block 82 so that the sliding jaw 87 is held between the block 82 and the top surface of the recess 80 and can slide therebetween. In Fig. l, the jaw is shown in the closed position in solid lines and in two different open positions by the dotted lines 61a and 61b. The movable jaw 6'! has an opening 83 therein with a slot extending therefrom which receives a finger 90 secured to the slide 29. The finger 29 prevents the movement of the brush with the movable jaw 67 as will be more apparent from the following description.

The movable jaw 61 is moved by a pin 81 extending in opening 83, which is secured to one ated, can be used in the plant where the brush is applied to the container for the material with which the brush is to be used so that the stem and bristle portions and the cap portions may be separately handled until the brushes are assembled on the containers.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been described which are illustrative thereof, it is obvious that various changes-and modifications can be made therein without departing from the intended scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for assembling brushes which include first portions having elongated stems made of resilient material and bristles secured thereto and caps which serve as handles for the brushes and which have recesses therein for receiving the stems, said machine including in combination, an assembly slide, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide having such configuration to receive a cap and support the same in a predetermined position, conveying means for individually providing the caps in said assembly fixture in said predetermined position, said assembly slide having clamp means for releasably engaging the sides of the elongated stem of a brush for holding the same in a position in alignment with the recess of the cap held in said assembly fixture, feeding means for receiving a plurality of stem and bristle portions and supplying the same adjacent said assembly slide, ejector means for individually removing said stem and bristle portions from said feeding means and positioning the same in said clamp means, and operating means for moving said slide so that the stem held in said clamp means is forced into the recess in the cap supported in said fixture, said operating means thereafter withdrawing said slide together with the assembled brush for removing the cap thereof from said assembly fixture, and then releasing said clamp means to thereby drop the assembled brush from said fixture.

2. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated stem made of resilient material and bristles secured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, said machine including in combination, an assembly slide having clamp means with first and second jaw portions movable with respect to each other in a first direction for releasably holding the stem of a brush therebetween, ejector means for individually dropping said stem and bristle portions in said clamp means between said jaw portions, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide having such configuration to individually receive the caps and support the same with the recess therein aligned with the stem held in said clamp means, and operating means for moving said slide in a direction substantially at right angles to said first direction so that the stem held in said clamp means is forced into the recess in the cap supported in said fixture.

3. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated stem made of resilient material and bristles secured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, said machine including in combination, an assembly slide having clamp means with movable jaw portions adapted to engage the elongated stem of said first brush portion, feeding means for receiving a plurality of the stem and bristle portions and supplyingthe same adjacent said assembly slide, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide for holding a cap in such position that the recess therein is aligned with a stem which is held in said clamp means, conveyor means for individually providing the caps in said assembly fixture, ejector means for individually positioning the stem and bristle portions in said clamp means, and automatic means for controlling operation of said machine including cam means, power means for driving said cam means, and mechanical means connecting said cam means to said slide, said clamp means and said ejector means, said cam means being of such configuration to cause operation of said clamp means to move said jaw portions to an open position to receive a stem and bristle portion therebetween, operation of said ejector means to position a stem and bristle portion in said open clamp means, operation of said clamp means to move said jaw portions to a clamping position to hold the stem therebetween, operation of said slide in a reciprocating action to force the stem into the recess of the cap in said fixture and to withdraw the assembled brush for removing the cap from said fixture, and operation of said clamp means to move said jaw portions to an open position to release the assembled brush therefrom.

4. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resilient stem and bristles secured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, said machine comprising an assembly slide having clamp means for holding the stem of a brush, feeding means for receiving a plurality of stem and bristle portions and supplying the same adjacent said assembly slide, ejector means for individually positioning the stem and bristle portions in said clamp means, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide for holding a cap in such position that the recess therein is aligned with a stem which is held in said clamp means, conveyor means for individually providing the caps in said assembly fixture, and automatic means for controlling the operation of said machine, including a shaft and means for continuously driving said shaft, first, second and third cams supported on said shaft, a first mechanical linkage connecting said first cam to said ejector means for causing operation thereof to position a stem and bristle portion in said clamp means, a second mechanical linkage connecting said second cam to said clamp means for causing operation thereof to hold the stem therein, and a third mechanical linkage connecting said third cam to said slide for causing operation thereof to force the stem into the recess of the cap in said fixture and to withdraw the assembled brush for removin the cap from said fixture, said second linkage and said second cam causing operation of the clamp means to release the assembled brush, said cams being of such configuration and being so positioned on said shaft that said operations take place in the order stated.

5. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resilient stem with bristlessecured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stern, said machine comprising an assembly slide having clamp means for holdingthe stem of- 9 abrush, feeding means for receivinga plurality oi stem and bristle portions and supplying the same" adjacent said assembly slide, ejectormeans for individually positioning the stem and bristie portions in said clamp means, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide for holding acap insuch position that the recess therein is aligned with a stem which is held in said clamp means, conveyor means for individually providing the caps'in said assembly fixture, andauto-' matic means for controlling the operation of said machine, including a shaft and means for continuously driving said shaft, a plurality of cams supported on said shaft, a first mechanical linkageconecting a first one of said cams to said clamp means, a second mechanical linkageconnecti-ng a second one of said cams to said ejector means, and a third mechanical linkage connectin a third one of said cams to said slide.

6. A machine for assembling brushes which include'a first portion having an elongated resilient stem and bristles secured thereto and a cap which serveslas a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, said machine comprising an assembly slide havin clamp means for receiving and holding the stem of a brush, feeding means for receiving a plurality of stem and bristle portions and supplying the same adjacent said assembly slide, ejector means for individually positioning the stem and bristle portions in said clamp means, an assemblyfixture adjacent said as embly slide for holding a cap in such posit on that the recess therein is aligned with a stem which is held in said clamp means, conveyor means for individually providing the caps in said assembly fixture, and automatic means for controlling the operation of said machine, including a shaft, means for continuously driving said shaft, first, second and third cams supported on said shaft,

' a first mechanical linkage connected'to said clamp means and cooperating with a first portion of said first cam for causing operation of said clamp means to a position for receiving a stem and bristle portion, a second mechan cal linkage connectin said second cam to said ejector means for causing operation thereof to position a stem and bristle portion in said clamp means, said first cam having a second portion which cooperates with said first mechanical linkage for causing operation of said clamp means to hold the stem therein, and a third mechanical linkage connecting said third cam to said slide for causing operation thereof to force the stem into the recess in the cap which is in said first fixture and to withdraw the assembled brush, said first cam having a third portion which cooperates with said first mechanical linkage for causing operation .of said clamp means to release the assembled brush.

'7. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resiliand automatic means forjcontrolling the operation of said machine, including a shaft and means for'continuously driving said shaft, first, second and third cams supported on said shaft, a first mechanical linkage connecting said first cam to said clampmeans, a second mechanical linkage connecting said second cam to said ejector means, and a third mechanical linkage connecting said third cam to said slide.

8. In a'machine for assemblin brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resilient stem with bristles secured thereto, and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has arecess therein for receiving the stem, the combinationin'cluding, means for holding a, cap in'a predetermined position, an assembly slide having a fixed jaw portion and a movable clamping jaw portion supported thereon, means including an arm pivotally connected to said slide for selectively moving said movable clamping jaw portion from a first position spaced from said fixed jaw portion for receiving a stem from the top of said slide, to a second position for tightly holding the stem between said jaw portions in alignment with the recess in the cap being held in said predetermined position, and mechanical means for moving sai'dfslide to thereby move the stem into the recess in the cap, said arm moving .said clamping jaw portion to a third position wherein said movable clamping jaw portion is spaced from said fixed jaw portion ,to provide an opening therebetw'een at the bottom of said slide for releasing the assembled brush therefrom.

9. In a machine for assembling brushes which include an elongated resilient stem, the combination including, an assembly slide having a fixed clamping jaw and a movable clamping jaw supported thereon, said movable clamping jaw having a projecting portion at the bottom thereof for closing the space below said clamping jaws when saidjaws are opened to a first position. means including an arm pivotally connected to said slide for moving said movable clamping jaw from the first position for receiving the stem to a second position for tightly holding the stem, said arm moving said movable clamping jaw to a third position wherein said projecting portion is clear of said fixed clamping jaw for releasing the stem, and mechanical means for moving said slide to thereby move the stem held by said jaw.

10. In a machine for assembling brushes which include an elongated stem with bristles secured thereto, the combination comprising, an assembly member for individually receiving the elongated stems of the brushes, feeding means for receiving a plurality of such stems and supplying the same adjacent said assembly member, and ejector means connected to said feeding means including pivotally mounted fingers for receiving one stem and a slide for engaging the one stem and moving the same to rotate the fingers to a position in which the stem drops from the fingers into the assembly member. 7

11; In a machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resilient stem'and bristles secured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, the

combination comprising, an assembly fixture for receiving a cap and supporting the same in a particular position for securin the first portion of the brush thereto, means for inserting the stem of the first portion in the cap held in said particular position, a container for the caps, conveyor means for supplying the caps from the container to said assembly fixture, said container having at least one opening therein of such configuration that the caps can move therethrough in a predetermined position only, said opening communicating with said conveyor means, said conveyor means being shaped so that the caps move therethrough in predetermined position and are supplied to said assembly fixture in said particular position, and means in said container for causing movement of the caps therein so that the caps are urged toward said opening.

12. In a machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated resilient stem with bristles secured thereto and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the stem, the combination including, an assembly fixture for receiving the caps individually and supporting the same in a predetermined poistion for securing the stem and bristle portion thereto, a container for holding the caps in random positions, conveyor means for supplying the caps from the container tosaid assembly fixture, said container having openings therein of such configuration that the caps can move therethrough in a predetermined position only, said openings communicating with said conveyor means and means in said container for causing movement of the caps therein so that the caps are urged toward said openings.

13. A machine for assembling brushes which include a first portion having an elongated tapered stem with bristles secured to the smaller end thereof, and a cap which serves as a handle for the brush and which has a recess therein for receiving the larger end of the stem, said machine comprising an assembly slide having clamp means for holding the stem of a brush, feeding means including a curved channel for receiving a plurality of stem and bristle portions with the larger ends of the stems at the outer periphery of the channels and the bristles at the inner periphery of the channel, ejector means for receiving the stem and bristle portions from said feeding means and individually positioning the same in said clamp means, an assembly fixture adjacent said assembly slide for holding a cap in such position that the recess therein is aligned with a stem which is held in said clamp means, and automatic means for controlling the operation of said machine.

JOHN G. BAUMGARTNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,898 Mumford July 12, 1904 1,507,953 Codina Sept, 9, 1924 2,033,259 Simms Mar. 10, 1936 2,059,530 Lay Nov. 3, 1936 2,314,306 Cave Mar. 16, 1943 

